Chapter 747

"Was it seven?"

Alexander hesitated. "You would have been around seven, wouldn't you?" He could only guess, based on his own age. He was sure of one thing, though: "You came with your parents."

"My parents" The term felt distant to Lily. She could barely remember their faces. "I have no recollection," she said, shaking her head in frustration. The inability to remember their appearance saddened her; her memories were vague and nearly nonexistent. After their deaths, the blow had been so great that much of her past was lost. Her grandfather had told her it was better to forget, to move on. Still, it was natural to feel sad about the irretrievable loss of those memories.

"If I was seven, how old were you? Too early for puppy love, don't you think? Or a secret crush?" After a moment, she asked, "Wait, I was only seven. You wouldn't have fallen for a seven-year-old, would you?"

"What are you talking about?" Alexander chuckled, flicking her forehead. "You were an adorable little girl, with a radiant smile and" He gazed at her face, pinching her soft cheek. "a chubby face."

Lily yelped, slapping his hand. Despite herself, she asked curiously, "Then what? Since you remember my parents, what were we doing at your old house?"

"It was my grandmother's birthday. You guys came to the party, I think." Unlike Lily, Alexander seemed reluctant to delve into the past. "It's been too long. I can't remember much."

Lily sensed his reluctance, not inability, to recall. He didn't explain the reason, and she understood; everyone has a past they prefer not to discuss.

"A new batch of equipment arrives at the studio tomorrow. Can you handle it, with everything else?" Alexander asked, concerned.

"Yes, of course." Lily nodded hurriedly, her nervousness returning as she thought of the two lines on the pregnancy test. To hide it, she yawned. "I must be tired. I'm sleepy."

"Then go to sleep." Alexander, unsuspecting, nodded. "I have something to do. Sleep without me, okay?"

"Why? Think I'm a child?" Lily playfully pushed him. "Go do your thing. I'm hitting the sack."

At the doorway, Alexander turned, kissed her forehead, and said, "Be a good girl, okay?"

Warmed by his affection, Lily purred, "Okay." Watching him go, she sighed in relief, then touched her tummy, wondering what to do about the child.